Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad Al-Sahlawi to train with Manchester United

Mohammad Al-Sahlawi is set to hone his skills under Jose Mourinho. (AFP)

LONDON: Mohammad Al-Sahlawi is to train with Manchester United for three weeks in another move to try and get top Saudi players more exposure at top European clubs.
The Green Falcons’ sharpshooter has impressed during his 33 internationals, scoring 26 times for his country.
The three-week stint at Old Trafford was announced on Twitter by Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), Turki Al-Sheikh. 
“It was agreed with Manchester United for Mohammed Al-Sahlawi to join for a training program for three weeks, may God benefit him,” he wrote.
The arrangement is part of the commercial agreement between Manchester United and the GSA, under which the 20-time English champions will help the Saudi Arabia develop its football industry as part of its “2030 Vision” initiative.
Al-Sheikh previously said: “This relationship is part of an exciting program we are undertaking to transform sport in Saudi Arabia.”
Sources close to Al-Sahlawi’s club Al-Nassr have told Arab News that the 31-year-old will not leave for England until the end of the current Saudi Professional League season, on April 12.
Al-Sahlawi will be the fourth big name from the current Saudi Arabia squad to make a move to a top European league. Earlier this year Salem Al-Dawsari, Fahad Al-Muwallad and Yahia Al-Shehri all moving to La Liga clubs in Spain. While they are yet to make impressions at their clubs, Al-Sahlawi’s move is limited to training, with no possibility of him making a Manchester United match-day squad.
It is hoped that such exposure to the training methods of the the world’s biggest and most successful clubs will help Al-Sahlawi hone his skills ahead of Saudi Arabia’s first World Cup since 2006.
Recently the Green Falcons have struggled for firepower upfront and much hope is pinned on the 31-year-old finding his scoring boots in Russia where they will face the hosts, Uruguay and Egypt in Group A.
So far preparations for the showpiece have been mixed with Juan Antonio Pizzi’s men comfortably beaten 4-0 by Belgium in a friendly on Tuesday.